Last year the Wishing Tree Appeal
collected a record 21,500 gifts for families in need and
over the past 10 years, the appeal has helped more than
104,000 New Zealanders.

Ms Gregory, co-presenter of
TVNZ’s Breakfast show, says that if it wasn’t for the appeal
thousands of New Zealanders would go without presents on
Christmas day.

“Christmas is the one day of the year that
everyone should be able to forget their worries, but
unfortunately there are many, many people in our community
who can’t do that. Instead Christmas can be a reminder of
what they haven’t got.

“Small contributions to the appeal
can make a big difference to a child, a teenager or a
struggling mum or dad on Christmas day,” she says.

Gifts
for the appeal can be donated at Wishing Trees, located at
any Kmart store around New Zealand. The gifts are then
distributed by The Salvation Army and Barnardos, the
official charities of the Wishing Tree Appeal.

The
Salvation Army’s South Auckland Director of Community and
Family Services, Gerry Walker, says Christmas can be a
particularly difficult time for many New Zealand families.

“There is always strong demand for our services at
Christmas time. Many New Zealand families have lived from
hand to mouth all year, so there just isn’t any money to buy
something extra at Christmas. It isn’t an option, and yet
there is huge pressure to make the day special,” Mr Walker
says.

Feedback from families to The Salvation Army has
shown that having something special to give their loved ones
at Christmas can make a real difference.

“Not getting a
present may not seem like a big deal. But our experience is
that the Wishing Tree Appeal makes a huge difference to
people’s lives and helps make their Christmas a bit
brighter,” Mr Walker says.

Likewise, Barnardos knows
first hand of the joy that a gift can bring to a child who
might otherwise have received none.

“It’s shocking to
think that in New Zealand there are children, and families,
who won’t have a single present to open on Christmas
morning, but it is the sad reality for some children,” says
Barnardos Chief Executive Murray Edridge.

“There are
families who won’t have a Christmas tree surrounded with
gifts, and they won’t be having the Christmas banquet that
we take as a given in our society. It certainly brings joy
to our staff who have the pleasure of delivering the donated
gifts, which will mean there is at least one gift for a
child to find on Christmas morning,” he says.

To
participate in the Appeal, simply place a gift (wrapped or
unwrapped) underneath the Wishing Tree at any one of Kmart’s
13 stores across New Zealand. Gifts do not need to be
purchased from Kmart – all gifts will be gratefully received
and will go towards helping brighten someone’s Christmas.

For the first time, contributions towards gift vouchers
can also made at any Kmart store. Gift vouchers will be
provided to families in need – allowing them to choose their
own Christmas presents.

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